British Foreign Secretary Harold Macmillan today evaded direct answers to questions put to him in Parliament by MP’s asking for a specific statement of the extent to which Britain will go in helping Israel defend itself in the current Middle East crisis triggered by the Czech-Egyptian arms deal.
Mr. Macmillan was asked specifically whether Britain’s arms commitments to members of the Bagdad alliance would preclude assistance to Israel in the event that she applies for arms. Mr. Macmillan replied that the Bagdad Pact had already been approved by Parliament, and refused to spell out any possible effect on Anglo-Israel relations.
A similar evasion occurred when Foreign Under Secretary Lord John Hope refused to give any figures of the number of British Centurion (heavy) tanks delivered to Egypt and how many remained to be shipped. It was reported that 60 tanks had been authorized for sale and 38 had been delivered.
Laborites clashed with Mr. Macmillan over the question of Britain’s handling of Egypt’s blockade of the Strait of Tiran, which controls the entrance to the Gulf of Akaba on which lies Israel’s port of Elath. The Foreign Secretary revealed that British vessels were now making reports of their intentions to enter the strait in advance of their arrival there.
When he was challenged on the propriety of complying with Egyptian regulation of an international waterway, Mr. Macmillan said that Britain continued to maintain her legal position that Egypt was not justified in attempting to regulate an international waterway, but had taken “these practical steps” to keep its maritime traffic moving into the Gulf of Akaba.
A Labor Party delegation which conferred last night with Foreign Secretary Macmillan on the possibility of an Anglo-Israel security pact was “dissatisfied” with the results of the talk, it was learned today from a Labor Party source. After the Laborites had presented their case, the Foreign Secretary said that he would present their views to the government. It is understood that the demand for such a treaty will be pressed by the Labor MP’s when the entire Middle East situation is debated in Commons.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
